Declan O‘Rourke in Kinvara

Declan O‘Rourke in Kinvara

Author: Matthew Bannister December 17, 2021 Duration: 59:32

The acclaimed singer and songwriter Declan O’Rourke takes us for a scenic walk near his home in the beautiful fishing village of Kinvara on the west coast of Ireland, singing songs inspired by the area as he goes.  Declan’s grandfather, an artist, was born and brought up in Kinvara. On our walk, Declan reflects on his first performance at an open mic night in Dublin where he suffered “an instant addiction” to singing live, on his fascination with the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s and 50s and on the exhibition of his grandfather’s paintings he staged in the village.

---

Access exclusive films of Declan performing along our walk, along with over 150 other performances from dozens of artists, by signing up to Folk On Foot On Film: https://www.folkonfoot.com/watch

We rely entirely on support from our listeners to make Folk on Foot. So please consider becoming a patron. You’ll make a small monthly contribution and get great rewards. Find out more at www.patreon.com/folkonfoot.

Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

Follow us on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Imagine stepping out for a walk with a friend who happens to be a brilliant musician, the path unfolding through the very hills, coastlines, or woods that shaped their songs. That’s the essence of Folk on Foot, a multi-award-winning podcast created by Matthew Bannister. Each episode is a gentle fusion of conversation, landscape, and live performance, recorded outdoors while walking with some of the most compelling voices in folk music. The format is beautifully simple yet profound: as they traverse a place of personal significance, the guests discuss their connection to the land, their creative process, and the stories behind their work, often pausing to play a tune or sing a song right there on the trail. Listeners are invited into an intimate, thoughtfully crafted soundscape that feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s been praised as a restorative listening experience and is noted for its impeccable production. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's an auditory journey that celebrates the deep, often unspoken bond between artist, music, and environment. The resulting podcast is consistently engaging, offering a unique blend of natural history, cultural insight, and, of course, fantastic music. It provides a genuine sense of accompaniment, as if you’re right there beside them, sharing in the quiet moments and the melodic ones, all woven together into a wonderfully calming and enriching hour.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 122

Folk on Foot
Podcast Episodes
The Ciderhouse Rebellion & Jessie Summerhayes in the Rosedale Valley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
In the shadow of the disused ironstone kilns of the Rosedale Valley in North Yorkshire, Ciderhouse Rebellion - fiddle player Adam Summerhayes and accordionist Murray Grainger - conjure up a soundscape of rare beauty - im…
Edgelarks at Scorhill Stone Circle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:26
A Bronze Age site on Dartmoor, six musical instruments, a feather, harmonica-enhanced beatboxing, a stone that is said to increase fertility, a fast flowing river, a baby and a caring grandmother - all ingredients of a w…
Olivia Chaney at the House on Hawnby Moor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:59
Olivia Chaney wrote many of the songs for her critically acclaimed second solo album whilst living alone without electricity or mains water at her family’s remote and crumbling farmhouse on Hawnby Moor in North Yorkshire…
Robert Macfarlane & Johnny Flynn at Wandlebury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:28
Question: What do you get when you go walking with the nature writer Robert Macfarlane and the actor and musician Johnny Flynn on a scorching hot summer's day in Wandlebury?Answer: A Neolithic track, an Iron Age fort, a…
Jenny Sturgeon in Shetland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:33
The singer, songwriter and artist Jenny Sturgeon has made her home on Shetland, a group of wild and wonderful islands in the North Atlantic. Her latest album “The Living Mountain” was inspired by the classic book about t…
Sam Sweeney at Swift's Hill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:23
The wonderful English fiddle player Sam Sweeney has been a key member of Bellowhead, Leveret, Eliza Carthy’s Wayward Band and many other collaborations. He’s also made two acclaimed solo albums. He takes us up to the top…
Jim Ghedi (and Friends) in Crookes and the Moss Valley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:06
A finger style guitarist with a uniquely impassioned vocal style, Jim Ghedi was born and brought up in the Crookes area of Sheffield. He takes Matthew Bannister to his Nan and Grandad’s terraced house where he heard a lo…
Germa Adan in the Sandwell Valley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:36
The singer, fiddle, guitar and ukulele player Germa Adan was born in Haiti, grew up in Florida and now lives in the UK. She says the RSPB reserve in the Sandwell Valley has been her place of calm during the lockdowns – w…
Cosmo Sheldrake in Boulsbury Wood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:04
The multi talented musician, producer and lover of the natural world Cosmo Sheldrake takes Matthew Bannister for a walk in the wood near his home in Hampshire. As well as creating electronic music from the song of endang…
Festival of LOVE: The Original Songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:05
23 amazing folk acts each performing an original love song for the Folk on Foot Festival of LOVE on Valentine’s Day 2021, featuring Heidi Talbot: Easter Snow; Seth Lakeman: The White Hare; Lady Nade: Sweet Honey Bee; Kri…